348 ACUTE GENERAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



in influenza always increases the mortality. The following 

 conditions may require medicinal aid: 



Fever. — ^The fever should be let alone unless it reaches an 

 unusual height or is continuing rather indefinitely and seri- 

 ously affecting the heart action. It may be reduced by cold, 

 rectal infusions which not only lower temperature but stimu- 

 late peristalsis and unload the bowels. The use of antipy- 

 retics, such as acetanilid or phenacetin (3ij every three hours) 

 is dangerous, as both drugs are powerful heart depressants. 

 They should be administered, if at all, with caution. Sodium 

 salicylate (5iv) is less dangerous in this regard, but may 

 irritate the stomach. 



Heart Weakness. — ^When the pulse becomes rapid and weak 

 one dose of digitalis (Squibb's iluidextract 5ij to iv) has a 

 remarkable toning effect. Strophanthus (Sij to iv), caffein 

 (3ss to j), camphor oil (subcutaneously Bss to j) are also 

 effective. When the pulse is strong enough, alcohol (brandy 

 § iij, with ether 5 ss, in a pint of cold water) is of "service. 



G astro-intestinal Tract. — ^Artificial Carlsbad salts (Bij to iij) 

 to which bitter agents (gentian, nux vomica) are added, 

 are useful. Dram doses of a solution of strychnin nitrate 

 in water (strychnin gr. j, water 3j) may be used. Bowel 

 disinfectants are also employed, as creolin (§ss to gj) or 

 naphtholin (Bss). Diarrhea may be fought with astringents 

 hke tannin with opium. Starch clysters are helpful. The 

 profuse diarrhea attending septicemia is impossible to check. 

 Calomel (grs. xv) with bicarbonate of soda (Biss) mixed with 

 powdered licorice root (Bj), smeared over the teeth as an 

 electuary, may be tried. 



Skin. — Leg swellings are best reduced by elastic bandages, 

 and if the pulse will permit, moderate exercise. Burrow's 

 solution to which a little gum camphor is added may be used 

 as a leg wash under the bandage. 



Eyes. — The eyes should be treated as in conjunctivitis 

 (boric acid solution 2 per cent.) and the pulmonary and 

 pleural symptoms met as recommended under the diseases 

 of the respiratory tract. 



Convalescent patients should not be worked until strong 

 enough and full appetite returned. The animal is generally 



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